Key case and key



y 15, 1958 c. B. SCHINDLER 2,842,954

' KEY CASE AND KEY Filed June 29, 1955 1N VEN TOR.

United States Patent KEY CASE AND KEY Cyril B. Schindler, New Orleans, La. Application June 29, 1955, Serial No. 518,781

1 Claim. (Cl. 70-456) This invention relates to a key case and key.

An object of this invention is to provide stub keys in which the handle portion thereof is eliminated thereby reducing the weight and material of the keys.

Another object is to so combine the key case and the keys in such manner that the case will serve as a handle for turning the keys'thereby providing a compact case for carrying the keys.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is comparatively simple and economical to manufacture.

The said objects I have accomplished by the means which are about to be described in detail and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claim. The invention itself, however as to organization and operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevational side view of a key case.

Fig. 2 is an elevational side view of a case with a key partly protruded therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a view showing a key being turned over from position in the case.

Fig. 4 is a view showing a key completely turned through 180 degrees.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the size of a stub key as compared with an ordinary key.

Fig. 6 is a vertical view showing several stub keys mounted in a case.

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the stub keys extending out from the case.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing a selected key protruded out in line with the case.

Referring to the construction shown in the drawing, the numeral 9 designates a trough-like case having open ends and an open margin. Each of the two sides of the case is provided with a longitudinal slot 10. As will be understood from Fig. 6 these two slots are in parallel relation. The inner end of each slot is provided with pin 12 is slid in the slots 10 toward the left.

Patented July 15, 1958 ice a curved enlargement 11 seen in Figs. 1 and 4. A pin 12 passes slideably through the slots. A U-shaped member 13 is secured to the ends of the pin 12. Upon grasping the member 13, the pin 12 may be slid in the slots 10 The member 13 if desired may be attached to a carrying chain which is not necessary to show since it does not constitute any part of this invention.

Any desired number of stub keys K from one to several may be rotatably mounted on the pin 12. As shown in Fig. 6, there are four of these keys.

The operation and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the preceding description in connection with the drawing. The operation will be best understood by considering only one key contained in the case. When the key is not being used, it is completely retracted into the case. In order to use the key, the member 13 is grasped and moved to the right as shown in Fig. 2. This slides the pin 12 in the slot 10 and protrudes or partly extends the key out of the case. Then the key is turned around through the position shown in Fig. 3 and passes through degrees into the position shown in Fig. 4. This places the key in place for use with the case 9 constituting a handle for the stub key When the The enlargement 11 permits the key to turn on the pin 12. After using the key, the pin 12 is slid toward the right until it reaches the enlargement 11. The key is then turned backwardly into the position of Fig. 2 and the pin 12 is slid to the left which restores the key hack into the case. The operation in connection with more than one stub key is similar to that already described. The keys are all mounted rotatably on the pin 12. The case is shown vertically instead of horizontally. When a selected key K is moved downwardly through 180 degrees, it will be in a position protruding downwardly from the case.

I claim:

In a device of the character described, the combination of a case having completely open ends and margin, the sides of said case having similar longitudinal slots extending from near one end thereof for substantially half the length of said case, the inner ends of said slots having curved enlargements, a pin passing slidably through said slots, at least one stub key having the rear end thereof rotatably mounted on said pin, said curved enlargements permitting the key to be turned through 180 for placing it into position when protruded from said case for unlocking purposes, and a U-shaped member having its end secured respectively to the ends of said pin and adapted to be grasped for sliding said pin in said slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,777,929 McCaul Oct. 7, 1930 2,393,373 Hendrix Jan. 22., 1946 2,490,396 Leif Dec. 6, 1949 2,509,318 Sequi May 30, 1950 2,598,615 Snyder May 27, 1952 2,706,902 Nichols Apr. 26, 1955 

